DHAKA, the capital of Bangladesh, has been climbing the ranks of cool cities because of art. By day, the biennial Dhaka Art Summit (DAS) keeps art lovers occupied with its showcase of contemporary art. By night, they are dancing at parties thrown by some of the hippest and wealthiest people in the country. It’s all enough to make foreign visitors endure bad traffic and overcrowded airports to get to the city.

This year’s DAS had works by over 160 artists, architects and designers. In an ocean of biennales and triennales, it distinguishes itself with a high percentage (approximately 50 per cent) of newly commissioned works, as well as an emphasis on South Asian art. Its founders and funders, the glamourous industrialist couple Rajeeb and Nadia Samdani, have rightfully credited DAS in helping draw global attention to art from this part of the world.

DAS’ last edition in 2020 drew over 500,000 locals and foreigners – an impressive feat for a nine-day event in a country hitherto not known for its arts scene.